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way down in the hole: the wire themes

Each season of The Wire features a different version of ‘Way Down in the Hole’, written by Tom Waits for his 1987 album Franks Wild Years [sic]. Here they are:
Season One: The Five Blind Boys of Alabama

Season Two: Tom Waits Waits also sang the extended version playing over the final episode’s closing montage

Season Three: The Neville Brothers This clattering take is my favourite

Season Four: DoMaJe Arranged and recorded specifically for the show, and performed by five Baltimore teenagers: Ivan Ashford, Markel Steele, Cameron Brown, Tariq Al-Sabir, and Avery Bargasse

Season Five: Steve Earle Earle, himself a former addict, also appears in the show as Walon, a recovering addict